After a really warm start to 2019, our weather will soon look and feel like it is supposed to this time of year. It is January 16th and there have only been two days this month with a below average high temperature. In fact, most days have been 5 to 10 degrees above average for this time of year. That will change today.

Today will be much colder. We will start today with some sunshine, but clouds will increase throughout the day. High temperatures will range from the low 20s in Sioux Falls and across the South to the low teens in the north this afternoon.

A weak disturbance will slide across the region tonight, bringing areas of light snow to locations along and south of I-90. Accumulation will be light, ranging from a dusting to around a half inch in some places.

A more significant winter storm system will move across the region Thursday night and Friday. The system will produce snowfall amounts from 2 to around 6 inches with locally heavier amounts. As of right now, all of our data suggests that the heaviest snow will fall across the southern two-thirds of South Dakota, Southwestern Minnesota, Eastern Nebraska and much of Iowa. Wind will not be as strong as it was with the post-Christmas winter storm, but gusts to between 20 and 30 mph will create areas of blowing snow late Friday and Friday night. Snow will end on Friday night and travel conditions will improve Saturday morning. Stay tuned for updates on this system. We will be adjusting the snow forecast as the system develops.

The snow will be followed by a blast of bitterly cold Arctic air. By Saturday and Sunday high temperatures will drop into the single digits with morning lows falling into the teens below zero.

Next week will start with another shot of light snow on Monday. High temperatures will warm back into the upper teens to low 20s by Monday and Tuesday.

Give yourself a little extra time to get to work and school again this morning. Roads and sidewalks will be slippery. It is foggy, frosty and we’ve even had a little light freezing drizzle in a few places. The fog and clouds will break later this morning and we should catch a few rays of sunshine this afternoon. High temps will be back above average – in the mid to upper 30s – one more time before our long-lasting, warmer than average streak comes crashing to an end.

A cold front will blast across the Dakotas later today into tonight. While I do not expect much precipitation with this front, it will knock high temperatures back below average for the first time in over a week. Highs will only reach the low 20s in Sioux Falls and across the South tomorrow while Northern South Dakota will only reach the upper single digits to low teens tomorrow afternoon. There will be plenty of sun tomorrow, but clouds will increase by late afternoon with a chance of light snow late tomorrow afternoon into tomorrow evening. Accumulation will be light.

Late Week Winter Storm
We are still watching a system that could bring measurable snow to much of our region Thursday night, Friday into early Saturday. Several inches of snow will be possible across much of South Dakota and Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and Southwestern Minnesota. Right now, models are suggesting that the most significant impact will be across the southern two-thirds of South Dakota, but that could change. Stay with us for updates. We will get more specific with the storm track and snowfall projections as we get closer. I should add that the wind won’t be as strong as it was with the post-Christmas winter storm, but gusts to between 20 and 30 mph will cause some problems with blowing snow.

After the snow, a bitterly cold Arctic air mass will move in and take over. High temps will drop into the single digits Saturday and Sunday with lows dropping into the teens below zero by Sunday morning.

Last week was really nice… And uneventful. Not what you would typically expect on the plains in January. This week will look and feel a bit more like it’s supposed to this time of year. We will start mild, but it won’t take long for temperatures to go on a bit of a roller coaster ride. By the end of the week the color of the landscape could change from brown to white.

A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for much of Central and Northern South Dakota through noon today. Visibility has dropped to less than 1/4 mile across the advisory area. With temperatures well below freezing, the fog is also frosting the roads making them very slippery. Give yourself plenty of extra time to get where you’re going this morning, keep headlights on low beam and be sure to look twice, even three times at intersections. Visibility will gradually improve later this morning or early this afternoon.

Today will be mostly cloudy but mild. High temps will range from the low to mid 30s in the South to the mid 20s in the North. Clouds will decrease tonight. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with warmer high temps in the mid to upper 30s. Parts of Central South Dakota will reach the low 40s tomorrow afternoon.

A cold front will blast across the plains late tomorrow and tomorrow night. While I don’t expect much precipitation with the front, it will bring in enough cold air to drop temperatures below average for the first time in about a week. Highs on Wednesday will only reach the low 20s.

We are closely monitoring a system that could bring snow to much of the region Friday into Saturday. It’s too early to get specific with amounts, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see several inches of snow in some places. In addition to the snow, strong wind could create areas of blowing snow. Stay tuned for updates. As we get closer, we’ll get a better grasp on where this thing will track and that will allow us to get more specific with forecast snow amounts. For now, just be aware that snow and blowing snow will likely impact travel across parts of our region Friday and Saturday.

One more thing… After the snow, it’s REALLY going to feel like January. By Saturday and Sunday high temperatures will only reach the single digits to low teens with lows dropping well below zero.